Railway-spike.



PATENTED AUG. 18, 1908.

J. E. HEALE.

RAILWAY SPIKE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1907.

Unrrn leras NT on JAMES HEALE, OF GOLDFIELD, NEVADA, ASSIGNOR ONE-FOURTH TO ARTHUR O. BIGE- LOW AND MANUEL SYLVIA, OF GOLDFIELD, NEVADA.

RAILWAY-SPIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 18, 1908.

Application filed September 16, 1,907. SerialNo. 392,956;

. 'end of the spike toward therail.

will depend upon the size of the railandonn of the outer side of the spike. cross section on the line 4-4 of In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 shows the spike in engagement with a rail Fig. 2 is a side view of a slightly modified form of the spike. Fig. 3 is a view Fig. 4 is a Fig. 3.

Similar reference characters refer to-like parts throughout theseveral views.

The size and proportions of the spike shown the character of the wood of the cross tie.

The cross section of the body or shank 1 of the spike is preferably rectangular,- and is ormed with any desirable style of point.

The head 2 is flat and inclined so that the lower. side fits the upper side of the lower flange 3 of the rail. This prevents the head being broken off by the excessive blows after the spike is driven to lace.

Projecting from the inner side of the shank or body of thespike is a shoulder -4 having an inclined lower side, and having its upper side square withthe inner face of the shank. A space 5 is thus formed between the shoulder 4 and the head'2 On the back of the head and at the upper end of the shank a second shoulder 6 is formed,

also beveled on its lower face. 7 is a tie late underneath the rail, provided with through which the spike may be driven.

This spike is designed to take advantage of the resilience of the wood of the tie 8. The

, what I clalm secure by Letters Patent is oles spike is started with its inner face a short distance, about an eighth of an inch, from the edge of the lower flange of the rail. When the shoulder 4 engages the edge of the rail flange 3, the head of the spike will spring back until the shoulder 4 passes the flange. When the inclined lower face of the shoulder 6 engages the plate 7, the upper end of the spike w ll b in Fig. 1. tie and will revent the spike fromworking out. Should the conditions be such that the spikes are pulled up a considerable amount, t

e'forced against t e flange 3 as shown e shoulders 4 will engage under the rail,

flange or plates 7 and thus be held in the ties. The result will be, that while not giving perfect service in holding down the rail, thespike will at least keep the track from spreading, as the spikes cannot entirely get-out of the ties.

Having now explained my improvement,

' as my invention and desire to 1. A railroad s ike comprising a shank and a head, and shou ders on the frontand back faces of the shank, said shoulders having their lower faces inclined the shoulder on the front face of the s ike being nearer the point of the spike than t e shoulder on the rear face.

2. A railroad spike com rising a shank and a head, a shoulder forme on the rear side of the shank at the head, and a second shoulder formed on the front of the shank below the head and having its u per face substantially at right angles to the s ank and its lower face inclined thereto the lower inclined face of the former shoulder being approximately opposite the upper face of the latter.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

- JAMES E. Witnesses: x

. M. SYLVIA, ARTHUR C.- BrenLow.

The shoulder 4 will bite into the 

